Joe Flacco is returning to one of his former teams for his 18th NFL season.
Flacco on Friday agreed to a deal with the Cleveland Browns, his agency told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The former Super Bowl MVP will sign a 1-year, $4 million deal that could be worth up to $13 million with incentives.
Schefter notes that Flacco also had conversations with the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, but the 40-year-old decided to return to Cleveland.
Reunion: the Cleveland Browns and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco reached agreement today on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million with incentives, his agency @JLSports3 told ESPN. Flacco now will return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the… pic.twitter.com/pOaCuhrVmS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 11, 2025
Flacco spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He started six games and threw for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Flacco played well early in the year after Anthony Richardson suffered an injury and took over the starting job again in Week 9 when Richardson was benched.
The Colts eventually went back to Richardson after Flacco played poorly for a stretch during the middle of the season.
Flacco was also thrust into a starting role with the Browns late in the 2023 season and played shockingly well. Cleveland signed Flacco after Deshaun Watson went down with a season-ending injury. Flacco took over the starting job in Week 14 after Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion.
In five starts with the Browns, Flacco went 4-1 with 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He led Cleveland to the playoffs, where they were blown out by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Many felt the Browns should have re-signed Flacco as a backup last offseason, but they chose not to bring him back.
The Browns have the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. They have already added Kenny Pickett this offseason, and many analysts have predicted they will draft a non-quarterback with the second overall pick.
Flacco could potentially have a chance to compete for a starting job in Cleveland, and the $9 million in incentives that are included in his contract reflect that.
